HOLLYWOOD -- The ghost of Marilyn Monroe is said to roam through the iconic Roosevelt Hotel here, although the actress died elsewhere in the Los Angeles area. She passed away in the early 1960s -- long before the birth of folks that Toyota's youth-oriented Scion division says it mostly wants.

"We could advertise in national newspapers tomorrow and sell more cars to older folks, but we're not marketing to them. The average age of Scion buyers is 30, which is the youngest in the industry," a Scion spokesman said at the recent preview here of Scion's revamped 2008 xB and new 2008 xD models.

PHOTO GALLERY

2008 Scion lineup

2008 SCION xB & xD

PRICE: $15,650-$16,600 (xB only).

LIKES: Revamped xB is larger, roomier and more powerful. New xD model has xB attributes with slicker styling and sharper handling, but doesn't go on sale until August.

DISLIKES: Only a four-speed automatic transmission. Quirky xB styling. Center gauges for xB.

Scion said it's happy to sell cars to people of any age group. But it left the impression at the preview that people over 30 or so really should get a regular Toyota such as a Camry.

Actually, a fair number of retirees and boomers have bought the tall, boxy xB because it's affordable, economical, roomy and easy to enter. It also has Toyota's reliability reputation and is simple to drive. But Scion says it mostly wants "young, urban, diverse" customers that seek things new and unique through nontraditional channels that are personal, trusted and authentic.''

Feel left out because you don't feel young or hip enough for a Scion? Tough. Scion indicates that you then should buy a "traditional" Toyota.

So far, Scion's different marketing approach seems to be working. Last year, it sold 173,034 cars in America -- up from 156,485 in 2005. In all, Toyota sold 929,052 cars here last year, excluding Scions.

Scion sales in the first two months this year fell to 17,960 from 22,108 in the same year-ago period, but that might be because folks knew a revised xB model and the new xD were coming.

Scion already has been involved with the worlds of hip-hop music, student film, street art and interactive media. It won't use mainstream print media or television to advertise the xB. Rather, it will utilize such outlets as offbeat Internet sites -- besides the Scion site. Know what a "viral video" is? If not, you're probably not a Scion target customer.

Scion's xA compact four-door auto has been dropped, leaving the sleek 2007 tC two-door coupe (Scion's top seller that might be redesigned next spring), and the 2008 xD and xB (There's no 2007 xB).

The four-door xB has been sold since the summer of 2003, and the 2008 version soon hits showrooms. The xD resembles other Japanese small four-door autos and won't reach showrooms until August, Scion executives said here.

The preview involved driving the xB and xD over twisting mountain roads and in heavy L.A. downtown traffic. But it had a strong marketing flavor that involved a Scion headquarters tour and lunch at a Scion Installation art gallery, with "Scion-related art."

Only prices for the xB were announced: $15,650 with a five-speed manual transmission and $16,600 with a four-speed automatic.

The xB has a good number of standard features. They include air conditioning, cruise control, tilt wheel with audio controls and power windows, mirrors and door locks with remote keyless entry. Front side air bags and front/rear curtain side air bags are standard, as are a vehicle stability control system with traction control and anti-lock brakes.

Toyota is clever about the Scion when it comes to making extra bucks. For example, it says many young drivers customize their Scions with numerous Scion aftermarket accessories. Scion officials say some Scion buyers spend "more for the car's accessories than they do for the car."

Scion says today's youth are used to customizing their lives -- from coffee, cell-phone ring tones and digital music players to sneakers and clothes to fit their mood.

"Scion's target buyer has changed the way business is done by demanding personalization and customization in all aspects of their lives,'' said Mark Templin, Scion vice president.

Offered for Scions are everything from custom shift knobs and larger alloy wheels with wider tires to upgraded brakes and vehicle-lowering kits. Then there are performance clutches, suspension-modification parts for better handling -- and so on. Some of that stuff isn't cheap.

Scion says Americans wanted more power and room, although the old xB had plenty of room. The new xB retains its boxy shape, front-drive layout and five-passenger capacity. But Scion increased the wheelbase (distance between axles) by 4 inches, overall length by a foot and width by nearly 3 inches to provide additional space and a more comfortable ride. Wheels are an inch bigger at 16 inches, and brakes are larger.

The 2.4 liter, 158-horsepower four-cylinder engine replaces a 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 103 horsepower. The engine works with a five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed automatic transmission, rather than a more modern five-speed automatic. Scion dodged questions about the lack of a five-speed automatic, saying it "accomplished what we wanted" with the four-speed. About 70 percent of buyers are expected to get the automatic.

The xB's manual gearbox shifts crisply, although it occasionally has a notchy action and works with a long, light clutch throw.

Estimated fuel economy (lowered by the EPA for all 2008 cars) is 22 mpg in the city and 28 on highways with both manual and automatic transmissions.

The xB is lively in town but has average merging and passing abilities because it weighs about 3,100 pounds. Steering is quick and the ride is supple. Handling is decent for a high vehicle, and braking won't cause anxious moments.

Large outside door handles make it easy to get in, and front seats provide good overall support. There's plenty of room, both front and back. The center of the rear seat is fairly comfortable, which isn't the case with most vehicles.

The center-mounted gauges would be easier to read quickly if put directly in front of the driver instead of near the center of the dashboard, but the large climate system controls are handy and other controls are easy to reach and use. Doors have small storage pockets and bottle holders.

The cargo opening is low and wide, and the cargo area is spacious -- and made roomier when rear seatbacks are flipped forward.

The heavy hood is held open with an old-fashioned prop rod, but the neat engine compartment has easily reached fluid filler areas.

The slicker-looking xD has a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 128 horsepower. Estimated economy is 27 mpg in the city and 33 on highways with the manual, and 26 and 32 with the automatic.

The xD is lighter than the xB at about 2,650 pounds, but its engine is noisier than the xB's and highway performance is lazy, although it's OK in town. As with the xB, the xD has a responsive automatic transmission. But it does best with the manual gearbox, which gets the most out of the smaller engine. The manual has better shift action than the xB manual transmission, but clutch action is stiffer.

The lower, solid-feeling xD handled better on winding mountain roads than the xB, showing remarkably good grip in curves. The steering and brakes also felt more responsive. The back seat was OK, but there was little rear room to spare for 6-footers.

The xD is nearly as well-equipped as the xB, although vehicle stability control with traction control is optional. Climate system controls are large, and gauges are right in front of the driver -- although the small tachometer is hard to read. Unlike the xB, the rear seat has a hard center, making the xD uncomfortable for a third rear occupant, although the back seat slides fore and aft. Alas, the heavy hood also has a prop rod.

The cargo area opening is wide, but rather high, although there's decent cargo space, either with or without the rear seatbacks flipped forward.

I didn't see Marilyn Monroe's ghost at the Roosevelt. Maybe it was only visible to the under-30 "Scion age group" of auto and "lifestyle" journalists at the preview. If so, they weren't telling. Maybe they were too young to recognize her.